Allen Toussaint

New Orleans R&B legend Allen Toussaint was one of the chief architects of the Crescent City sound as a composer and producer, making hits with Lee Dorsey, The Meters, and Dr. John, among others. After Hurricane Katrina, he moved around and renewed his friendship with Elvis Costello, with whom he’d worked as a sideman in the ’80s. That led to the remarkable 2006 collaboration, The River In Reverse, a swinging celebration of New Orleans culture that was the first major musical work to be recorded in the storm-battered city after the disaster. Toussaint has taken on new currency since, and 2009 saw the release of The Bright Mississippi, a collection of jazz standards.

Updated 01/11/2011